Blog Feed: Distance learning with the Open University and MITx - psychology and electronics do mix!
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Let’s abolish ALL bank holidays!
Published on 2012-04-09 04:22:30
Bear with me on this one for a minute. Wouldn’t you like to live in a world where the swivel-eyed loons of The Centre for Economics and Business Research were starved of the oxygen of publicity for their ignorant views? Where people who know the cost of everything but the value of nothing were pitied and asked to go and do something useful with their lives, instead of being promoted as the lead story on the BBC, on the radio and in newspapers? I know I would. And I have a cunning plan t [..] > read more
MITx 6.002x – week 5: sharp tools required
Published on 2012-04-07 07:15:08
Week 5 on MITx has felt rather like revisiting week 4. The main difference has been that rather than using circuits with hypothetical voltage controlled current sources in them, we’ve been introduced to using transistors (or MOSFETs, as the course likes to call them) in their saturation region as a way of achieving a practical amplification circuit. Even some of the homework on week 5 has had a sense of repetition about it. The first few questions in H5P3 are all but identical to those giv [..] > read more
Phenonominololological: Surf Teddy launches his bid for worldwide stardom!
Published on 2012-04-04 15:38:37
I received an email from Eddie Chauncy yesterday – the creator of the wonderful TMA song and friend of Surf Teddy. About the TMA song Eddie writes: I really only shared the song with my DD307 Facebook crowd as some light-hearted fun, but was stunned at the response! Who’d have thought it?! Surf Teddy’s become a bit of a legend in his own right. For us on the course this year, it’s been a kind of illustration of social psychology. If we ever needed convincing about emotion as [..] > read more
MITx 6.002x week 4 – slow going on homework 4, part 2
Published on 2012-04-03 07:30:43
I’m rather cross with myself – and the course question setters this week. Having found the Lab 4 curve tracer exercise straightforward and also having rattled my way through the first two parts of homework 4 (H4P0 and H4P1 on Zener diodes) without too much difficulty, I got stuck on the amplifier questions in H4P2. Except, I didn’t really. I’d assumed that a couple of decimal places for reporting the bias current would be sufficient … however, the answer appears to [..] > read more
Blog stats January – March 2012
Published on 2012-04-01 03:29:22
It’s ages since I did one of these navel-gazing posts, but I do still collect the statistics from this blog on a regular basis. It’s not good to become too obsessed with such things but just in case anyone else other than me is interested, here’s the latest update. There have been just under 22,900 page impressions in the first quarter of this year (counting just those made by real people rather than automated “bots”) – up 3% on the same period last year. E [..] > read more
MITx 6.002x – five opinions from the blogosphere #2
Published on 2012-03-26 12:33:35
Many students are now getting on for a quarter of the way through 6.002x, so I thought I’d re-visit the blogosphere to see what others are saying about the course. Patrick at Padded Thoughts says that the course is like “suduko on steroids” and adds: “For me the homework has become the driver – quite revealing in itself though not a surprise to find assessment is taking over.” This is definitely true for me too! Yvonne Belanger argues in “MITx: A view from t [..] > read more
MITx 6.002x – week 3: So what exactly is an “expo dweeb”?
Published on 2012-03-24 07:48:40
It’s just before 11am on Saturday morning and I’m already through week 3 of the course, having successfully completed the homework assignments and the lab. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m now getting into the swing of the material, or because the course has moved onto digital logic and devices like transistors and diodes that I’m comfortable with, but it seems to have become considerably easier going this week. I certainly find it easier to conceptualize thes [..] > read more
Raspberry Pi – we *have* been here before!
Published on 2012-03-21 13:12:58
The lauch of the Raspberry Pi is beginning to look more and more like the early days of home computing – but this time, it’s not about the excitement of programming, it’s all about delays in delivery. Having been promised delivery by April 30th, it will now be with me “around the end of May”. Oh well. It’s not the end of the world I suppose! Earlier on today, I found this reminder of the problems that Science of Cambridge had in delivering the MK14. Somehow, t [..] > read more
MITx 6.002x – week 2
Published on 2012-03-17 18:28:41
I’ve just finished hacking my way through the week 2 homework and lab. This week has focussed on the use of superposition and the Thévenin and Norton methods for analysing linear circuits, followed by a brief canter through some basic digital logic. Three tasks were set for this week’s homework. The first was to find suitable resistance values from the E12 range to complete a voltage divider, which was relatively straightforward. The third task was to complete a truth table for a di [..] > read more
MITx 6.002x – five early opinions from the blogosphere
Published on 2012-03-13 03:57:31
I’m barely a couple of weeks into 6.002x and yet I’m already finding new methods of procrastination. Sigh. Some ways are more fruitful than others, however, and I’ve managed to find a number of people who are also blogging their way through the course. Here’s a selection of some of the more interesting posts I’ve found so far. In an incredibly enthusiastic first post, Anna Chiara announces that MITx is alive, managing 6 “cools”, 3 “greats” an [..] > read more
I wonder if this might be my OU degree certificate?
Published on 2012-03-12 15:10:40
… it could well be as I’m not expecting anything else. Sadly, I will have to wait until at least Wednesday lunchtime to find out > read more
MITx 6.002x – week 1
Published on 2012-03-10 11:12:26
I’ve just completed my first lab and “homework” for MITx 6.002x – and I achieved a decent result too! However, before I get too excited, I need to point out that they have a rather odd system of marking assignments – and one that anyone who’s studied an OU course would love! You are allowed to make as many attempts at each question as you want. Not only that, but it the course software gives you instant feedback on whether your answer was right or wrong. So g [..] > read more
MITx 6.002x circuits and electronics – first impressions
Published on 2012-03-05 14:31:43
Earlier on today I had an email reminding me that my MITx course, 6.002x, in circuits and electronics, was available to start. This evening it’s taken me a couple of hours to work through the course introduction and the first part of week 1. My first impressions are largely favourable. The materials are well laid out and presented in a clear and logical manner. The coherence of their virtual learning environment (VLE) makes it an absolute joy to use – much smoother than the OU’ [..] > read more
WARNING: Computing is highly addictive
Published on 2012-03-04 02:24:24
… is what Practical Electronics said about the launch of the Compukit UK101 back in August 1979. While you’re reading their article, remember that it isn’t about the Raspberry Pi – instead, it’s about an 8MHz 6502, 4Kbyte computer with a UHF output to a black and white TV monitor and a 300 baud (very, very slow) cassette tape interface for backing up your programs and data. Two highlights: Imagine being able to run a program to help your child (or yourself) revise f [..] > read more
The launch of the Raspberry Pi – haven’t we been here before?
Published on 2012-03-03 10:43:06
Yes. We have. But not for a long, long time and that’s why I’m looking forward to receiving mine, once production can keep up with demand. At £21.60 + VAT for a “model B”, you can’t really argue about value, even though you have to provide your own keyboard, monitor, SD cards and a case. According to the charitable foundation behind the Raspberry Pi, it has come into being because: Eben [Upton, a Cambridge University lecturer] had noticed a distinct drop in the ski [..] > read more
The TMA song
Published on 2012-03-03 03:45:14
Just brilliant! As a former DD307 student, I empathise completely. Particularly with the bit where Surf Teddy is hiding under his textbook. Oh, and his inability to spell Phenonominololology too (Hat tip to Dan at History of the OU for alerting me to its existence and thank you to Eddie at the finance academy for such a creative piece of procrastination!) > read more
The calm before the storm
Published on 2012-02-29 13:40:02
… or perhaps I’m in the eye of the hurricane. There’s lots about to happen over the course of the next few weeks and months. Changes at work mean that it looks as if I’m going to be busier than ever … but it’s nice to be wanted! It’s about a week to go before the MITx circuits and electronics course starts. Despite that, there’s been no further communication from MIT about my registration or early access to materials … so I’m assuming t [..] > read more
The Taming of the Shrew
Published on 2012-02-19 12:59:55
I went to see Derby LIVE’s production of the Taming of the Shrew last night. It was a great evening out and the Guardian’s review makes nearly all of the points about it that I’d want to, except that they’ve been a little mean in the number of stars awarded – it was definitely worth 4, if not 5! It’s on until the 25th February, so there’s still just about time to catch it if you want to. And you really should. If you have any kind of decency in you, you& [..] > read more
I’m going to be a MITx 6.002x guinea pig!
Published on 2012-02-13 13:45:41
So having spent my last two posts suggesting that the OU needs to retain at least some face to face tutorial and/or residential school time in its modules, I’ve decided to enrol in an entirely internet-delivered short course in circuits and electronics, of which the BBC says: … is unusual in that it is inviting students anywhere in the world, without charge or prior entrance requirements, to study for a certificate carrying the MIT brand. The level this course is taught at is supp [..] > read more
… and another thing!
Published on 2012-02-12 03:20:02
I was reflecting on the Oh(U) dear post I wrote on my Friday evening train journey again yesterday. Fundamentally, my overriding concern with it is the idea that it seems to be peddling: that if technology is good enough, human contact is unnecessary for learning. I knew I’d seen that idea somewhere before! For a view from 1951, you might want to spend a couple of minutes reading Issac Asimov’s (very) short story “The Fun They Had“. And if that’s not convincing enou [..] > read more
Oh(U) dear. The Independent blurs the line between fact and fiction
Published on 2012-02-10 13:26:01
“Today, Rita could have signed up to Open University on Facebook“ There’s a lot to love about both The Open University and The Independent. However, The Independent really ought to stick to proper journalism rather than re-hashing what looks like a PR piece put out by the 48 strong OU communications department. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the OU promoting itself. It’s a fabulous institution and their recent initiative to ask former students to act as ̶ [..] > read more
Real money only please – the OU ends its association with the Tesco Clubcard
Published on 2012-02-01 04:10:49
Further bad news today for anyone hoping to redeem their Tesco Reward vouchers towards the cost of a module at the OU. Just over a year ago, the OU announced that the scheme would in future only apply to level 1 study; today they have announced it will end completely on 31st July 2012. From the message published on StudentHome: The six months’ notice period means students will be able to register for OU modules using Tesco Reward vouchers up until close of business on 31 July. Students wil [..] > read more
Simon Hughes: Young people have not been put off university …
Published on 2012-01-30 13:35:40
… but maybe mature students have been? Simon Hughes, the coalition’s Advocate for Access to Higher Education has just issued a press release following the announcement of today’s UCAS application numbers. He makes a series of very valid points, including that applications for University places are at an all time high (excluing last year), that young people do not appear to have been put off by the headline cost of tuition (which he appears to be arguing acts as a time-limited g [..] > read more
Lurking
Published on 2012-01-28 11:29:34
When I graduated from Warwick University in 1985, I couldn’t wait to get away from the place. I don’t think I even returned to the campus until the weekend of my 40th birthday – very nearly 20 years after graduating. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy my time there, but initially I couldn’t wait to get out into the world of work and then, after a bit of the shine of having money for the first time had worn off, I didn’t want to go back because I knew I might [..] > read more
Arsene Wenger and the fundamental attribution error
Published on 2012-01-16 16:28:42
I’m not what you’d call a football fan. Yes, I always listen out for Derby’s result and occasionally listen to Radio Derby’s commentary, though it really hasn’t been the same since Graham Richards retired. But I’ve probably been to fewer than 10 professional games in my entire life. One of the reasons for my disenchantment with football is the constant nonsense spouted by many of the people running the game. Such as Paul Jewell’s recent pronouncements on [..] > read more
ICT bad, Computer Science good – an unproductive dichotomy
Published on 2012-01-11 16:16:04
In some ways I’m rather encouraged by today’s announcement by the education secretary that he wants to see a greater emphasis on the teaching of computer science in the schools curriculum. But I think the suggestion that he seems to be making, or at least the media interpretation of it, that teaching someone how to use popular computer programs like office suites (his definition of ICT) is no longer worthwhile and what should be taught instead is how to program them (his definition o [..] > read more
Thank you
Published on 2012-01-08 03:23:36
… to everyone who’s sent me a note of support this week, either by leaving a comment on my last post, through twitter, facebook or by sending me an email. It’s been somewhat overwhelming to be honest! It’s also been my first week back at work after the Christmas and new year holidays and I’ve been very busy, so I haven’t (yet) been able to reply to everyone who’s contacted me and I apologise if you’re one of the people on that list. I will try to g [..] > read more
Why this blog went dark over Christmas
Published on 2012-01-04 15:22:39
tenpencepiece.net is my second attempt at blogging. My first, which was created during the early days of blogger, ran out of steam at some point during the early 2000s. I eventually deleted it and I don’t have a backup, but I know that it wasn’t very good. Fortunately, I’m certain that almost no-one read it. It wasn’t until late 2008 that I started again. I was between OU modules and was due to start ED209, but I didn’t start this one with any particular intent to b [..] > read more
Well, that was easy…
Published on 2011-07-05 19:38:11
It’s 0126 on July 6th. Deadline day for the DD307 project (TMA04) and SD226 TMA03. I’m glad to say that despite asking for my first ever extension on an OU TMA (for SD226), I haven’t had to use it after all. Even so, submitting an a > read more
Goodwood “Festival of Speed” here I come!
Published on 2011-07-01 11:30:15
As some of you reading this will know, I'm off to the Goodwood Festival of Speed early (very early!) tomorrow morning for the weekend. I've never been, but I'm going with a couple of friends who have been there many times before, so I exp > read more
The HE white paper – mentions of the Open University
Published on 2011-06-28 15:38:14
I'm still working my way through the HE white paper. Earlier on this morning I noted that I was intrigued by a reference on the BBC News website to idea that "local FE colleges will be able to offer Open University degrees" in future. Wel > read more
Higher Education white paper due out today
Published on 2011-06-28 00:58:52
I see from the report on the BBC website that the long-awaited HE white paper is finally due out later on today. While most of the comment currently seems to be concerned with the idea of ranking universities according to graduate employment outcomes > read more
Nyan Cat
Published on 2011-06-27 13:52:50
This is so wonderful, it deserves a post all of its own. > read more
Back to the 80s – my one man boycott of Barclays
Published on 2011-06-27 13:24:31
This morning, I called Barclaycard and cancelled my card. It's my one man protest about the shameful actions of Barclays in closing the Egg facility on Pride Park, leading to 659 job losses in Derby by the end of the year. They certainly know how > read more
DD307 TMA04 – the end is in sight
Published on 2011-06-25 18:12:18
Finally, I have a complete draft of my project report which has approximately the right number of words in it (just over 4,000) in the right kind of proportions. I’m drained. I need to go back to it before I submit it as the discussion is still > read more
Silver bullets
Published on 2011-06-19 13:01:40
We live in a world that demands simple solutions to complex problems. There's a problem with runaway dads not supporting their children. Simple fix, according to David Cameron – stigmatise them. They're as bad as drunk drivers. Problem > read more
DD307 TMA04 – the project report starts to take shape
Published on 2011-06-18 16:05:39
So (as I appear to start every question I asked of my participants during the group discussion), it’s been a pretty productive Saturday writing up my project report. I think I’m around halfway there, but unsurprisingly I have too many wor > read more
More wonderful spam
Published on 2011-06-16 04:37:50
Further to my recent post on the subject, another piece of entertaining comment spam has just landed in my blog's filter: Mythical! This blog looks just like my prehistoric identical! It’s on a completely different subject-matter but it has > read more
Mahoosive Moth!
Published on 2011-06-13 16:14:22
This is what's currently sat on the rear tyre of our Fiat Punto: It has a wing span of 3 or so inches and I hope it doesn't eat rubber! Apparently, it's a Poplar Hawk Moth and quite common around these parts. Still, it caused quite a stir > read more
DD307 TMA04 – transcription, transcription, transcription
Published on 2011-06-11 16:21:41
I managed to conduct my group discussion for the project on Monday evening, as planned. It was an interesting experience and I think I've got some sensible data to analyse, even if I couldn't stop asking closed questions (which fortunately st > read more
DD303 DD307 which is better?
Published on 2011-06-10 15:20:46
Someone found my blog today by using the title of this post as a search query. The answer is obvious. “There’s only one way to find out … fight!” > read more
A conversation with our rabbit
Published on 2011-06-05 11:55:09
“Good morning, Archie” “Hello. Where’s my food? WHERE’S MY FOOD?!! I’d quite like some of those nice organic carrots for breakfast with a sprinkling of parsley please. I don’t much care for greens.” > read more
OUSA comments on post-2012 Open University fees
Published on 2011-06-03 17:29:08
A couple of days ago, OUSA very helpfully provided an indication of when OU students might be able to gain some clarity on what OU course fees might be in autumn 2012. I first wrote about this topic a month ago, when it looked as if it might not be u > read more
Proof
Published on 2011-05-31 06:32:29
One of the things that was drummed into me by my first OU psychology tutor back in 2007 when I did DSE212 was that you shouldn’t talk about “proof” when you really mean “evidence”. She was right, of course – not ev > read more
SD226 – TMA03: first question down, two to go
Published on 2011-05-29 15:12:57
I’m using the gap between now and when I can do my DD307 group discussion (arranged for 6th June) to try to get as much done as possible on SD226 and TMA03, which is due in on the same day as the DD307 TMA04 project report. I pleased to say tha > read more
DD307 – TMA03 blues and project panic
Published on 2011-05-26 02:47:16
So. Three TMAs completed for DD307 which have resulted in the 3 lowest scores of my degree. I really thought that I was going to score better on the project proposal than I did (after all, I managed to write a really good one for DD303 last year.) Un > read more
Wonderful spam!
Published on 2011-05-24 04:18:11
I’ve just picked the following comment out of my blog’s spam filter and was particularly amused by it. Hello! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to supersede you if that would be ok. I’m fully enjoying your blog and look forward to late pos > read more
Motivation
Published on 2011-05-19 02:45:35
As I’m taking both DD307 and SD226 this year I have a fairly busy study schedule. That’s probably an understatement. I’m currently trying and failing to put my fifth TMA of the year to bed, which is the second of four for SD226. The > read more
How I learned to stop worrying and embrace the iPad
Published on 2011-05-15 05:58:07
I’ve been looking for some time at tablet computers and a few weeks ago decided that I was probably going to buy one. I even went as far as having an extended chat with a sales assistant in one of the Apple shops in Derby which at the point tha > read more
DD307 – TMA03
Published on 2011-05-10 16:01:21
I’ve just finished putting the final touches to my project proposal for DD307. The last section I completed was my proposed timetable. The advice on the project from the course team is that it is a very busy time – and having put the time > read more
What the Liberal Democrats should do next
Published on 2011-05-08 13:45:08
Back in October of last year, before the tuition fees vote, I wrote a rather impassioned email to Nick Clegg, at his invitation, expressing my dismay at the way the party was handling the issue inside the coalition. I didn’t publish my email on > read more
Open University students in limbo over fees until spring 2012
Published on 2011-05-02 06:37:19
The OU has been silent so far on what it intends to charge for its courses post September 2012, and there’s no early end to this silence in sight. We now know what the majority of full-time institutions are looking to charge and it’s we > read more
DD307 – Planning the project
Published on 2011-04-30 13:47:50
I’ve been doing some planning for my project in the last few days, so I finally plucked up the courage to email my (new) tutor this afternoon with an outline of what I’m going to put on my TMA03 project proposal form. I really hope that s > read more
Why I agree with Nick. And Ed, Caroline and Nigel too.
Published on 2011-04-22 05:40:29
I wasn’t going to write a post on the Alternative Vote (AV) referendum, but given the generally poor way in which both campaigns have explained the choice, I’ve decided to stick my oar in. You should know that I’m voting for a chang > read more
SD226 – TMA02
Published on 2011-04-20 13:16:48
I’ve decided to try to make a proper start on TMA02 for SD226 this evening, partly because I can’t face reading any more academic papers in preparation for the DD307 project and partly because it all looks straightforward enough. I know I > read more
DD307 – TMA02 returned
Published on 2011-04-18 02:24:01
My TMA02 result was returned yesterday evening and I’m pleased to report an 18.75% improvement on my mark from TMA01. (That sounds better than saying I improved by 12 marks.) Yay! However, it still makes it my second worst TMA score of all time > read more
DD307 – Attitudes
Published on 2011-04-16 16:33:20
I’ve been catching up with a bit of note making today by finishing off my scribbles on the attitudes chapter of the critical readings book. As I was reading it, I was reminded of an old episode of “Yes Minister” where Sir Humphrey d > read more
Lies, damned lies and social mobility statistics
Published on 2011-04-14 13:51:36
A few days ago, when the government (and Nick Clegg in particular) was launching its strategy for social mobility, there was a chart used that made me feel a little uneasy. I couldn’t initially put my finger on why that was the case, but it l > read more
I can do psychology, me
Published on 2011-04-13 14:00:01
I’m pleased to report that the mark I’ve received for my first SD226 TMA indicates that perhaps I can “do psychology” after all, provided that it’s not wandering off down some post-modernist, science-hating rabbit hole a > read more
SD226 – counting cells
Published on 2011-04-10 03:33:02
I still feel that I’m neglecting SD226 in favour of trying to get a proper grip on DD307, but with TMA02 not due in until 25th May and with the rather exciting project proposal (TMA03) for DD307 having to be in the week before, perhaps I can be > read more
Oh, go on then, say universities – Bar Chart Edition!
Published on 2011-04-07 12:45:55
Despite @fourinten tweeting “Succinctly put” about last night’s post on why Vince Cable’s hope that students would be able to drive better value for money by shopping around for universities and comparing offers is a rather fo > read more
Oh, go on then, say universities
Published on 2011-04-06 16:50:10
I read with interest today about Vince Cable’s comments to university vice-chancellors that: The biggest mistake a university could make is to underestimate its consumers. and: Students will search for value for money and compare the offers of > read more
It’s good to know that you’re out there – somewhere!
Published on 2011-04-04 14:52:59
I promise that this is the final one of the series of posts (for now … as there’s always another quarter end …) which relate to my blog stats. This time it’s a graph of the number of page views tenpencepiece.net has received e > read more
DD307 TMA02 finished – and about flipping time too!
Published on 2011-04-02 18:10:36
I finally got to the end of TMA02 a few moments ago. As with TMA01, I don’t think its the greatest essay that I’ve ever written – in fact, I know it’s not the greatest essay I’ve ever written, but frankly, it’s goi > read more
Q1 2011 – Comings and goings
Published on 2011-04-02 12:43:25
In case you weren’t bored enough already by the previous statistical post, here’s another. This time, it’s where people came from in the first quarter of 2011 and where they left to go to if they clicked on a link on this blog. > read more
Most popular posts – Q1 2011
Published on 2011-04-01 13:41:55
I had written an ‘April Fool’ post a few days ago that was scheduled to appear here just after midnight. However, I read it again and decided it just wasn’t that funny. So it’s gone. As such, you’ll have to make do with > read more
The loneliness of the long-distance learner
Published on 2011-03-29 15:55:13
One of the notable aspects about OU study today is it usually feels a lot less isolated than when I took a management course with them in 1990. Other than a handful of tutorials and a frantic long weekend at York University, the amount of contact you > read more
I don’t get it
Published on 2011-03-27 13:37:15
I’m finding writing my TMA02 essay on ‘the self’ one of the most difficult and frustrating things I’ve had to do for my OU psychology degree to date. I now have about half an essay (in terms of word count), but it feels like I > read more
Claiming expenses
Published on 2011-03-25 17:28:49
Earlier on today I put my expenses claim in at work for the last fortnight. I travel around quite a bit for my job and because of that, it’s not unusual for me or my colleagues to have claims of several hundred pounds outstanding each month. I > read more
The Co-operative in Kenya
Published on 2011-03-22 05:19:04
I know that many people, including myself, were deeply moved by the programmes screened earlier on this month by Comic Relief, showing the desperate conditions which many people in Kenya in the slums around Nairobi live in. I think like many > read more
DD307 TMA02 – a struggle with postmodernist thinking
Published on 2011-03-20 16:22:20
After the less than stellar beginning I’ve made to DD307, I’ve spent some of this weekend attempting to start TMA02, due in on April 6th. I’ve chosen option B – on ‘the self’. The sum total of these efforts so far > read more
The impact of university tuition fees – a spreadsheet
Published on 2011-03-17 06:44:56
I noticed this morning that the BBC had published an article on the impact of the forthcoming changes to university tuition fees in England: Graduates could pay back double their student loans. As it happens, I’d started to put together a sprea > read more
Too much stuff!
Published on 2011-03-14 04:25:23
I’ve been looking ahead at my calendar for the next few weeks and I’ve come to a simple conclusion about it – there’s just far too much stuff I need to get done. Some of the “stuff” is unavoidable of course. I̵ > read more
DD307 – Sniggering at the Social Psychoanalytical approach
Published on 2011-03-08 15:56:35
I’ve just finished making my notes on ‘Self’ – chapter 5 of the DD307 Social Psychology Matters course book. Again, it’s been an interesting and thought-provoking read. I was particularly taken by the phenomenological ap > read more
University funding for novices
Published on 2011-03-07 17:11:39
You know how it is – or maybe not – perhaps your lifeworld is a little different to mine . You’re sitting in bed on a Sunday morning, surfing the blogs, and you come across something that is just too irresistible to pass up the oppo > read more
Getting back onto the horse and completing SD226 TMA01
Published on 2011-03-05 15:11:23
“They” say that the best way to deal with falling off a horse is to get straight back onto it and try again. So following that particular maxim, I’ve made a concerted effort on SD226 and TMA01 today and I now have a version I̵ > read more
Gutted – but even more determined
Published on 2011-03-04 12:45:56
Yesterday was one of those days where three annoying things happened in the space of about 20 minutes. One was work related; a second was personal and the third was OU related. The OU related incident was the last of the three. Late afternoon I picke > read more
Are university Vice-Chancellors about to replace bankers as the new bogey men?
Published on 2011-03-02 14:44:38
Following on from earlier announcements by Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial that they intend to charge the maximum possible tuition fees from 2013 for undergraduate courses of £9,000 per year, Exeter university has entered the fray today by indicating > read more
Galloping on with SD226 TMA01
Published on 2011-02-28 03:15:10
After I let my first assignment for DD307 stagger into the online TMA submission system on Saturday morning, my thoughts turned towards the first TMA for SD226. Amazingly, I was far enough on in the reading to make a start (and some of it has been pa > read more
On the road
Published on 2011-02-26 15:46:03
So far this year I seem to be spending a lot of time away from home. Specifically, I seem to be spending a lot of time working from our Bracknell office – it was 3 days last week and 4 days this week. Inevitably, I spend a fair amount of time a > read more
Bye bye DD307 TMA01
Published on 2011-02-24 15:37:30
After seven drafts (one more than I usually reckon on needing for an essay) and far, far too long procrastinating over its contents (after all, I said it was taking too long to do on 5th January!), TMA01 is now all ready to submit. I feel like I̵ > read more
I’m mystified – does the OU’s internal mail system not work?
Published on 2011-02-22 16:20:53
On 15th January I wrote two letters to the Open University. One was to the Vice Chancellor, the other was to the Dean of Social Sciences. Both were almost identical in their content. I asked the VC what the plan was for postgraduate courses in genera > read more
Will it still be possible to pay in advance for OU modules next year?
Published on 2011-02-18 02:55:43
I recently tweeted the OU’s “Four in Ten” campaign with a question asking about the current situation of England-based students who were studying with the OU who wanted to carry on paying for their modules in advance, as many of us > read more
Two and a half cheers for the Freedoms Bill
Published on 2011-02-12 14:32:40
Since the Freedoms Bill was announced yesterday morning, I’ve been doing a little thinking and investigation into what this is all about and the impact that it is likely to have. My general impression is that the proposals are a rag-bag of fair > read more
Crossing organisational silos – a few quotations
Published on 2011-02-10 17:18:34
I’m currently creating an e-book (for work) on why it’s a good idea to use (our) methodologies and tools to support “cross-silo working” as a way of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of organisations. I’ve decid > read more
SD226 and DD307 – first week progress report
Published on 2011-02-07 16:06:49
I know it’s not really my first week on either of these courses, but with the official start dates for both DD307 and SD226 behind me, I can feel the clock ticking towards the DD307 exam and the SD226 ECA. Or whatever it’s now officially > read more
Happy Christmas!
Published on 2011-02-04 09:43:50
It’s ok, you haven’t missed the last 11 months of 2011 and I haven’t gone mad. Yet. I’m sat on a train from London to Crewe (and I’m strangely excited it’s going via Milton Keynes) with the aim of then finding a tr > read more
Under starter’s orders – the new OU year begins (officially!)
Published on 2011-02-02 18:01:35
According to the study calendar for DD307 (Social psychology: critical perspectives on self and others) the module officially started a few days ago on 29th January. SD226 (Biological psychology: exploring the brain) is due to start in a couple of da > read more
My MP replies on the future for OU Social Sciences Masters
Published on 2011-02-01 13:16:03
Here’s the response from my MP to the leter I wrote concerning the cancellation/suspension of all of the OU social sciences masters programmes. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I might respond to this? A response from Pauline Latham O > read more
Link blogging for w/c 24th January 2011
Published on 2011-01-28 13:57:08
Apologies for the lack of posts this week. It’s been a busy one for all kinds of reasons, largely work related. I still don’t feel like writing anything original tonight, so instead I thought I’d offer up the five most interesting ( > read more
A small update on the future of the OU social science masters qualifications
Published on 2011-01-22 13:57:15
It appears that the OU Social Science Faculty has recently (on 19th January if the footer on their webpage is correct) updated the information on the status of OU social science masters courses. Unfortunately, it’s not really very informative. > read more
DD307 – I’m rather enjoying this course so far!
Published on 2011-01-22 11:32:34
I really didn’t think I was going to enjoy DD307, but I am making good progress with it so far. I have a draft TMA01 essay (which is not due in until 2nd March). I’ve finished my notes on families this afternoon and earlier on in the week > read more
I didn’t think I needed a Plan B
Published on 2011-01-20 14:34:32
Well worth a read: I didn’t think I needed a Plan B – the OU Platform blogger Carrie Walton on the withdrawal of all post-graduate social sciences courses. I wonder who her friend that said he studied with the OU for “emotional and > read more
Spot the difference
Published on 2011-01-18 16:00:13
From the OU Platform site, yesterday: Interviewed in The Times, the VC predicted no let-up in the shift towards the type of part-time online learning offered by the OU, with more traditional universities also increasing part-time provision. and: R > read more
SD226 course website has opened
Published on 2011-01-17 02:32:49
I had a quick scan through the newly opened SD226 course website this morning. At least I can now print off the study calendar and think about how I need to juggle my time between now and October on SD226 and DD307. On the face of it, the assignment > read more
It’s been a bits and pieces weekend
Published on 2011-01-16 13:53:16
I don’t feel that I’ve achieved very much this weekend, other than having got through another 48 hours of my life. For those of you who are interested, here it is (was): Saturday Went to Sainsbury’s to buy fish for tea and sundry ot > read more
A letter to Pauline Latham OBE MP
Published on 2011-01-10 16:17:43
Dear Pauline, I am writing to you to express my deep concern about the impact of the recently announced spending cuts in tertiary education and in particular their impact on the Open University. I have been studying part-time for a BSc in psychology > read more
The end of the line for the OU Psychology Masters courses?
Published on 2011-01-07 15:18:32
What a depressing thought that is. When I set out studying psychology with the OU in 2007, my intention was that once I had my conversion diploma (or degree), it would act as a springboard into taking a leisurely canter through the OU MSc in psycholo > read more
DD307 – slow progress on TMA01
Published on 2011-01-05 16:49:04
Before anyone else says it, as DD307 doesn’t start officially for a few more weeks yet, I know I’m really making quite good progress overall! I took today off work (having been back at my desk for all of one day this year) so that I could > read more
SD226 – the return of Phineas Gage
Published on 2011-01-04 13:39:50
While I’ve been spending most of my OU study time on DD307 since the start of December, I have picked up the SD226 textbooks and scanned through them. One of the things that immediately caught my attention was the reappearance of the Phineas Ga > read more
Never mind the quality, feel the width!
Published on 2011-01-03 03:00:50
I’ve already posted three articles about my blog statistics for 2010. You may well be relieved to hear that this is the final one! This is simply a graph comparing the number of page views each week in 2010 compared with 2009. 2010 saw 53,501 p > read more
DD307 – Block 1 notes finished
Published on 2011-01-02 03:00:25
I managed to get to the end of the reading and note making for block 1 of DD307 a couple of days ago. It felt mostly like a very, very long introduction, with chapters dedicated to the history of social psychology, the different epistemological stanc > read more
Victory dance
Published on 2011-01-01 05:49:01
I first started to get interested in computer gaming in the early 1980s and even attempted to write a few myself. The kind of games I programmed were definitely primitive by today’s standards and not very good. Fortunately, the computer magazin > read more